String of beads

ABSTRACT

A string of beads with deformable connecting pieces ( 2 ) that extend between each pair of adjacent beads ( 1 ) and are secured to the beads ( 1 ), wherein the connecting pieces ( 2 ) are plastics threads or flexible wires.

[0001] The present invention relates to a string of beads withdeformable connecting pieces extending in each case between two adjacentbeads, and secured to the beads.

[0002] Such strings are made up of a large number of bead-connectingpiece units and can be produced in any desired lengths. The length isalways a multiple of the bead-connecting piece unit. Another advantageof these strings of beads is that they do not have to be tied.

[0003] However, the join between beads and connecting pieces isproblematic in the state of the art. A solution became known from GB 750737, in which short, rigid connecting pieces with spherical ends engagepositively in recesses of the adjacent beads. However, this kind of joinbecomes detached under the action of quite severe tensile loading, as aresult of which the string of beads can be lost. Furthermore, the lengthof the rigid connecting pieces is limited, because otherwise the stringof beads takes on a polygonal shape and no longer adapts itselfelegantly round the wearer's neck.

[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,009 the connecting pieces all consist of amultilink chain, which is fixed on two adjacent points of the beads bymeans of intermediate pins. The connecting pieces in the form of a chaincan in this way be made up in any length, but joining to the beads viaintermediate pins involves a high production expense.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is therefore to offer atechnologically simple variant of connecting pieces, wherein theconnecting pieces at the same time ensure an elegant, circular course ofthe string.

[0006] This is achieved according to the invention in that theconnecting pieces are plastics threads or flexible wires.

[0007] On the one hand, the plastics threads or flexible wires aresufficiently rigid to be inserted directly in openings in the beads, inorder to be locked there. At the same time, both plastics threads andflexible wires have sufficient flexibility, so that the connectingpieces and therefore the string of beads as a whole rest optimally onthe wearer's body.

[0008] Sufficient stiffness for insertion into the beads plus highflexibility are achieved in particular with nylon threads as connectingpieces.

[0009] From the standpoint of production technology, it is particularlysimple if the connecting pieces are exclusively glued into the beads, UVadhesives having proved particularly suitable as the adhesive.

[0010] It is advantageous if the connecting pieces are glued to oneanother in the beads. Even if the glued joint between the connectingpieces and the respective bead comes apart, the direct joining of theconnecting pieces still gives a closed string, which does not becomelost. The only negative consequence is slipping of the beads relative tothe connecting pieces.

[0011] Other features and details of the present invention can be seenfrom the following description of the drawings, where

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a representation of a string of beads according tothe invention,

[0013]FIG. 2 shows detail A in FIG. 1 with cut beads, and

[0014]FIG. 3 shows detail A in FIG. 1 of a second variant.

[0015] The string of beads according to the invention consists,according to FIG. 1, of a large number of beads 1, with the term “bead”being broadly defined. It can refer both to real pearls, as well asglass or plastics beads, whose surface may or may not be processed, forexample polished. The colour and shape of beads 1 is also independent ofthe object of the invention. In each case, connecting pieces 2 arearranged between the beads 1, and are locked in the contiguous beads 1.The string of beads is thus made up overall of a large number ofbead-connecting piece units.

[0016] The locking of the connecting pieces 2 is shown in detail in FIG.2.

[0017] The connecting pieces are either plastics threads or flexiblewires. The use of nylon threads as connecting pieces 2 is preferred.Flexibility of the wires can also be achieved by spring-coiling of thewires.

[0018] The beads 1 have a through hole 3, with diameter somewhat greaterthan the diameter of the connecting pieces 2 formed from nylon threads.Before inserting the connecting pieces 2, an adhesive 4 is placed in thethrough hole 3 of bead 1. Single-component adhesives, which harden underthe action of UV light or heat, have proved suitable, and otheradhesives are also suitable.

[0019] Then a connecting piece 2 is inserted from both sides into thethrough hole 3, with the connecting pieces 2 forming a butt joint withone another and with bead 1.

[0020] An alternative version is shown in FIG. 3, in which the bead 1has two blind holes 5 instead of the through hole 3. A connecting piece2 is glued into each of these blind holes 5 by means of the adhesive 4.

1. A string of beads with deformable connecting pieces that extendbetween each pair of adjacent beads and are secured to the beads,characterized in that the connecting pieces (2) are plastics threads orflexible wires.
 2. A string of beads according to claim 1, characterizedin that the connecting pieces (2) are nylon threads.
 3. A string ofbeads according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting pieces(2) are glued into the beads (1).
 4. A string of beads according toclaim 3, characterized in that the adhesive is a UV adhesive.
 5. Astring of beads according to claim 1, characterized in that the beads(1) have through holes (3), in which the connecting pieces (2) aresecured.
 6. A string of beads according to claim 5, characterized inthat the connecting pieces (2) are glued to one another in the beads(1).
 7. A string of beads according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe connecting pieces (2) are glued together with a butt joint.